ryan will have to get a waiver from his house caucus colleagues to stay on his budget chair. i'm betting that that happens because he is still, i think, a rising star in the party. but he has that little thing that he's got to go through, which is to get a vote in the caucus before he can continue. >> mark. >> the other big element which is out there, not a january 1st thing but early 2013 thing is raising the debt ceiling. and remember, for the house republicans, that was a big bargaining chip. >> right. >> and a big element. we don't know the exact date. but when people talk about a deal, that's one thing you've got to factor in, will house republicans be willing to give an extension to deal with tax reform and other things if no one thinks can be dealt with in the lame duck or early next year and get something in return for agreeing to raise the debt ceiling. i'm ready to admit the first thing i've already been wrong about, the president said the fever will break and a deal will come into place more easily. still difficult but more easily than has happened so far. i was sk